Moving your family to Singapore is a behemoth of a feat. Any parent who has done so deserves an award because the to-do list must seem like one sent from hell. And that doesn’t include all the travel arrangements you have to make. But finding the best Singapore apartment rental for your family is definitely one of the first steps you have to take before you even book a ticket. If not, you’d be slogging through the streets with your family and luggage in tow. Finding ‘the one’ is, thankfully, much easier than the modern dating scene in Singapore.

Here are the 4 things you must consider as you go apartment hunting.

Table of Contents

• • • 1. Apartment Location
    • 2. Nearby Amenities
    • 3. Apartment Size
    • 4. Apartment Space Allocation
    • Focus on Your Family’s Needs
    • Why Go with MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments

1. Apartment Location

This goes without saying. The postcode is a pretty good indication of how comfortable your life will be in Singapore. There are 28 districts in Singapore, each with its own unique collection of amenities and attractions. Pinpointing where to live will help you sift through the plethora of available Singapore serviced apartments and condo rentals.

Most of the time, you’d be checking how to get between your workplace and your home away from home. That is, unless you’re a digital nomad. And it’s just too bad that there isn’t a wide range of options for work-live housing in Singapore.

By the grace of robust urban planning and the Land Transport Authority (LTA), you’ll have hassle-free access to public transportation. With LTA’s  Land Transport Master Plan 2040, all your commutes will soon be even shorter. It’ll only take 20 minutes to reach your nearest neighbourhood centre and 45 minutes to reach your workplace.

A new extension of the Thomson-East Coast Line of Singapore’s subway system has just opened. Now, you’ll have access to even more of Singapore’s hidden gems. There will be new lines and stations coming online in the coming years, along with all the bus stops littered across the island too.

2. Nearby Amenities

Besides convenient access to public transportation, the right location can bring you all the amenities you need. If you’re staying at a Singapore condo rental in a larger residential development, you can simply enjoy all the fitness and wellness facilities in-house. However, most boutique developments will be further away from the main thoroughfares.

So as you’re looking at the apartment location on Google Maps, keep an eye out for these couple of things:

• Schools and Education Institutions

International students can seek admission to public education institutions like primary schools and junior colleges, though they are required to take the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS). While every school is a good school, as they say, there are the more prestigious ones. The ones whom you’ve probably heard of—Raffles Institution, Nanyang Girl’s School, and Hwa Chong Institution. Besides that, there are international schools in Singapore that also cater to the unique needs of international students.

• Wet Markets and Supermarkets

While you can easily get your groceries online, there’s nothing like finding fresh ingredients when you walk down the aisle. With a nearby wet market or supermarket, you can simply stop by and get what you need. You’d get a little exercise too. Some NTUC Fairprice outlets even operate 24/7 too.

Besides convenient access to public transportation, the right location can bring you all the amenities you need. If you’re staying at a Singapore condo rental in a larger residential development, you can simply enjoy all the fitness and wellness facilities in-house. However, most boutique developments will be further away from the main thoroughfares.

So as you’re looking at the apartment location on Google Maps, keep an eye out for these couple of things:

• Schools and Education Institutions

International students can seek admission to public education institutions like primary schools and junior colleges, though they are required to take the Admissions Exercise for International Students (AEIS). While every school is a good school, as they say, there are the more prestigious ones. The ones whom you’ve probably heard of—Raffles Institution, Nanyang Girl’s School, and Hwa Chong Institution. Besides that, there are international schools in Singapore that also cater to the unique needs of international students.

• Wet Markets and Supermarkets

While you can easily get your groceries online, there’s nothing like finding fresh ingredients when you walk down the aisle. With a nearby wet market or supermarket, you can simply stop by and get what you need. You’d get a little exercise too. Some NTUC Fairprice outlets even operate 24/7 too.

3. Apartment Size

The last thing you want to do is cram your family of two kids and your partner into a studio for rent in Singapore, given the exorbitant prices now. Apartment sizes depend on the type of Singapore apartment rental you’re going for. Most of the time, public housing in Singapore by the Housing and Development Board is more spacious.

HDB 4-room flats, the more common flat type for families, are usually as big as 95 sqm (around 1022 sq ft). That’s just enough for a family of 3 children. 5 at the most, though it’ll be a bit cramped. These flats usually feature:

• Three bedrooms
• Living space
• Kitchen and dining area
• Service yard
• Storeroom-cum-apartment shelter

Apartment sizes can go up to 214 sqm (around 2303 sq ft), that is if you’re lucky enough to find a HDB executive maisonette. Those come with two floors, at least three bathrooms, and even a balcony.

Private apartments and private condominiums are usually smaller compared to HDB housing, though they are usually the more affordable sector of Singapore’s private housing market. The sizes for a 3-bedroom condo unit usually range from 83 sqm to 120 sqm (900 sq ft to 1300 sq ft). It all depends on the age of the development and its location. Most of the time, older developments and projects further from Singapore’s city centre and prime locations will be more spacious, though they are not always space-efficient.

4. Apartment Space Allocation

Are you a family that loves to dine in? Then perhaps you can find four-bedroom apartments with a bigger kitchen. If you’re a family that prefers more quality time together, then you might need an apartment with a larger living area, or a residential development with more communal facilities.

For those who are lucky enough to work from home, you should be looking at apartments with at least a proper study. That way you can Zoom in peace and avoid a total gaffe over an important meeting.

Focus on Your Family’s Needs

Bigger isn’t always better. With economic uncertainties brewing and elevated rental prices, you need to find the harmony between the quality of life you aspire to and the monthly rental costs on your balance sheet. Going with the cheapest option means you might need to deal with longer commute times, but you could be enjoying more spacious living spaces. If you still want to live the high-rolling expat life, then by all means, find the swankiest condominium development with the widest range of facilities.

Why Go with MetroResidences Singapore Serviced Apartments

Finding a place for your family in a new place is daunting. With MetroResidences, you can select from a wide range of serviced apartments across Singapore, from Bukit Timah to River Valley.

All of our apartments adhere to our strict Property Standards that account for the comfort and cleanliness of all our listed serviced apartments. Our fully-furnished apartments come with amenities such as wi-fi, air conditioners, and a fully-equipped kitchen.